Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
CIUDAD ESTABLECIDA EN UN PEQUEÑO SALTO DE AGUA
Pre-Hispanic Era
The indigenous people who inhabited this area did not have fixed settlements nor did they cultivate the land.
Their life was organized around hunting and gathering wild fruits.
The Valley of Saltillo was covered with vegetation; from the mountains to the wide expanse of land, there were swamps and numerous springs. During certain times, this vast area was populated by arrow-shooting indigenous people who subsisted on seeds, hunted boars, deer, and turkeys, as well as fish and turtles.
Colonial Era
After the conquest, the Spaniards saw the Valley of Saltillo as a suitable place to found a settlement. This territory belonged to the kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya, whose capital was Durango.
Saltillo was founded before 1574, according to a report made by the royal cosmographer to Philip II, where the name Saltillo appears at the end of a list of settlements founded in those years. The name was Villa de Santiago del Saltillo. However, the official date of the city's foundation is the year 1577.
The European conquerors found a small waterfall emerging from the rocks of a hill, located to the south of the city. As that waterfall was more of a "Saltillo," they baptized the settlement with this name. For several decades, Saltillo served as the gateway for Spanish advancement to the northeast.
However, the new settlers were attacked by the indigenous people living nearby, and the town was on the verge of disappearing; in 1581, several families sought refuge in Mazapil and Durango.
History of Saltillo
To strengthen the population, groups of Tlaxcaltecas were invited to serve as examples of "civilized" life to the nomads of the region. The Tlaxcaltecas accepted the Viceroy's request and sent 400 families to found towns in what is now Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, and Coahuila.
In 1591, they founded the town of San Esteban de la Nueva Tlaxcala. These indigenous people received land, livestock, farming tools, and permission to carry weapons. They also introduced sheep farming and used their wool to make blankets and sarapes.
In 1592, they built the oldest church in the city, San Esteban.
For over 200 years, the Tlaxcaltecas and Europeans shared the same territory, settled in their respective towns: the Tlaxcaltecas in San Esteban de la Nueva Tlaxcala, and the Europeans in Villa del Santiago del Saltillo.
In 1607, the conquistador Santos Rojo brought the image of the Santo Cristo de la Capilla to Saltillo, which is venerated every August 6th.
The Villa de Santiago del Saltillo and the town of San Esteban were separated by an irrigation ditch that ran along what is now Allende Street, and they were independent in their civil and religious authorities, although they were united in defense against nomads, the commercialization of their products, and important celebrations.
The growth was rapid, and there were frequent conflicts over land and pastures. Many Tlaxcaltecas and Spaniards left the city to found and consolidate other settlements such as Monterrey, Parras, and the present-day Viesca. Additionally, Guadalupe, Bustamante, and Villa Aldama in Nuevo León; Monclova, Nava, Nadadores, Candela, and other towns in Coahuila, and even San Antonio, Texas.
The region's wealth led to the Feria del Saltillo, one of the most famous fairs in New Spain during the colonial era. It was celebrated every October.
The 18th century was a period of tranquility for the people of Saltillo, with occasional disturbances due to attacks by indigenous people and horse theft, as well as disputes between Spaniards and Tlaxcaltecas over land and water.
In the last quarter of this century, the current Cathedral, the El Calvario temple, the Santo Cristo Chapel, the San Francisco temple, the Landín chapel, and a hermitage where the Sanctuary of Guadalupe now stands were constructed. During this time, the Bourbon kings reorganized the territories of New Spain into provinces. In this way, Saltillo and San Esteban were incorporated into the province of Coahuila.
War of Independence and the 19th Century
At the beginning of the 19th century, the French invaded Spain and captured the King. The people of Saltillo contributed money and jewelry that allowed the payment of 50 soldiers who fought in the Iberian Peninsula.
In October 1810, the muleteers who arrived at the Saltillo fair informed the residents about the uprising of the Cura Hidalgo against the Spanish government.
Spain reacted to the Independence movement and created the Cortes of Cádiz to allow its colonies to participate in legal and administrative matters. Saltillo sent Father Miguel Ramos Arizpe as the representative for its district.
In 1821, three months before the official act of Independence in Mexico City, the Saltillo City Council declared independence.
After Independence, the Villa de Santiago del Saltillo was renamed Leona Vicario, and the town of San Esteban changed its name to Villalongín, in honor of a Michoacan insurgent. However, the names did not prevail, and in 1827, they were integrated into a single settlement called Saltillo. In the same year, the capital of Coahuila was moved from Monclova to Saltillo.
In 1846, the Mexican-American War began, and in February 1847, near Saltillo, one of the most important and bloodiest battles took place: the Battle of Angostura.
Years later, Mexico was invaded by the French. Saltillo became the seat of the Republic's powers, as Benito Juárez, fleeing from the invading troops, stayed in Saltillo during the first months of 1864.
In 1867, the Ateneo Fuente was founded, one of the first higher education institutions in the northern part of the country. Years later, the Normal School for Teachers was created.
The city's life changed abruptly from 1883 with the arrival of the railroad to Saltillo. Simultaneously, electricity, telegraphy, and the automobile, as well as an increase in books and newspapers, led Saltillo to open up to modernity.
Mexican Revolution
During the Mexican Revolution, Saltillo remained relatively peaceful. The city was occupied by forces led by Huerta, later by Villa, and then by Carranza. Hundreds of peasants were forced to join different groups, causing many to flee to Texas, just like some aristocratic families.
Modern Era
In 1930, the current Antonio Narro Agrarian University was founded. In the 1950s, the Technological Institute of Saltillo and the University of Coahuila were created. Two decades later, the Autonomous University of the Northeast and the Saltillo Campus of the Monterrey Institute of Technology were established.
In the second half of the 20th century, Saltillo's agricultural life rapidly transformed into industrial activity; the vast orchards disappeared, and industries now dominate the landscape.
Thanks to its universities and industries, Saltillo is now a cosmopolitan city.
MODERN CITY WITH ROOTED TRADITIONS